Peer 2 Peer for Americahttp://www.p2pfa.com
To gain, and retain control over our lives, our families, and our community.Sat, 12 Aug 2017 13:42:08 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.8121966939This would be even cheaper than giving homes to the homelesshttp://www.p2pfa.com/homelessness/qq-htm/
http://www.p2pfa.com/homelessness/qq-htm/#respondMon, 02 Jan 2017 02:32:57 +0000http://www.p2pftw.com/?p=61What follows is a list of things that would be cheaper than giving homes to the homeless, and better for America’s future.

Put shop back in school. And music, and art. These were ways kids found what they love. Instead of sports, slide some focus to performance arts, and exercising social/interpersonal skills. Keep the tech, but remove it as the focus. It’s an option, not the only one.

The fact is that today’s parents (the ones we need to focus on) are learning how to do these very things from people that have no clue what being a parent means (their parents, friends, etc.), much less what best practices are. This is not a socioeconomic question, it’s a growth strategy question.

Help Jr. high school kids find their actual passion vs. cramming them onto the conveyor belt of college (advanced high school).

Help high school dropouts find jobs – it doesn’t require more school, just find things that don’t require college: coffee shops, dry cleaning, grocery stores, late model car mechanics, janitorial services, lawn care, plumbing, etc. These are fantastic jobs, but society frowns upon them today. Our parents, and generations now, have fallen for the “my kid must go to college” trap. No, not everyone has to go to college. Stop that.

Find Jr. high, high school, and high school drop outs mentors and apprenticeships as a *part of the eduction system.* Don’t wait for the “oh crap, I graduated, now what” mistake we continue to make today.

If we address any or all of the above, we’ll have fewer functional homeless… and fewer on the brink/at risk/in poverty. Our youth would have something productive to do… and above all else, it challenges them at an earlier age, with a safe place to fail.

Solving these issues will take decades, and it also takes courage and fortitude. We can’t continue to do the same things we’ve been doing for the past century and expect a different outcome. Schools need an overhaul, and sadly for many, this includes the entire staff and administration. Today, information spreads at the speed of light and knows no building, so let’s leverage that to our advantage.

And no, not everyone needs to learn to code. STEM and STEAM won’t save the economy. A basic life-relevant education that encourages follow-through learning (not dictating what to learn), and helps kids find their thing, while helping them *do* that thing, will change the future.

I say let’s heavily invest in our future: the kids. It’ll save hundreds of millions in future state expenditures (from healthcare to prison). All it needs to succeed is your voice, and action. Demand better from your neighborhood, and city representatives.

]]>http://www.p2pfa.com/homelessness/qq-htm/feed/061Who are the most powerful people in America?http://www.p2pfa.com/startup/who-are-the-most-powerful-people-in-america/
http://www.p2pfa.com/startup/who-are-the-most-powerful-people-in-america/#respondWed, 17 Oct 2012 16:33:44 +0000http://p2pfa.com/?p=48Google says the most powerful people in America are people like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerburg, Ben Bernanke, and Bill Clinton. Many say the senior level executives a the major banks and financial institutions are the most powerful. Other options might be military leaders, or the rich and famous. While those people are certainly at the top of their professions and have name recognition, they’re not the most powerful people in America. Not by a long shot.

Is power determined by money, or influence, or both?

The most powerful people in America are those that have lost hope for the future. Maybe they don’t vote because “their vote doesn’t matter.” They’re assailed by constant negativity from the press and television, and see little opportunity as a result. They’re preyed on by companies looking to make a quick buck on the financially illiterate. Prosperity is something only seen on TV, “for other people.” More than that, they’ve surrounded themselves with people that believe the same. “Nobody cares about us.”

Today, millions of Americans believe that our government (city, state, and federal) will save them. That somehow electing the right official (but clearly not the other one) will save them from the troubles and pain they’re feeling day to day. The reality? Outsourcing “hope” simply doesn’t work.

We believe that the future of our country, and its recovery, will be fueled by those who believe that real change starts with the person in the mirror. It’s in their homes, and in their communities. It’s not just in their actions, but in every thought and sentence.

How do we get there? How do we reach these people, and how do we help them understand the power that dwells within? Slowly, methodically, and with the help of their Peers.

Join us.

]]>http://www.p2pfa.com/startup/who-are-the-most-powerful-people-in-america/feed/048Focus: Basic Humanitieshttp://www.p2pfa.com/uncategorized/focus-basic-humanities/
http://www.p2pfa.com/uncategorized/focus-basic-humanities/#respondMon, 17 Sep 2012 14:54:59 +0000http://p2pfa.com/?p=43We face many challenges today. One of them is a lost sense of self, family, and community. Parents, while well intentioned may have never known the basics. Maybe they were too busy working, and schools simply aren’t equipped to teach the basics.

This document is the firstdraft of our Basic Humanities Focus. I’d love your thoughts on the content, and the reading level. It’s intended for readers at a 5th grade level.

]]>http://www.p2pfa.com/uncategorized/focus-basic-humanities/feed/043Basic ideas, empowering our country.http://www.p2pfa.com/uncategorized/basic-ideas-empowering-our-country/
http://www.p2pfa.com/uncategorized/basic-ideas-empowering-our-country/#respondSat, 15 Sep 2012 22:11:23 +0000http://p2pfa.com/?p=35One of the most powerful tools humanity has is its ability to communicate. Ideas of all kinds are spread every second – many of them are wonderful, helpful, and empowering.

Most of the messaging we receive today is advertising – buy this to look great, buy that to be safer on your commute to work. Use this carrier because they have more 4G around the world! It really doesn’t matter what it is… just buy it!

It’s likely that most of the people reading this are responsible in one way or another for that messaging. We’re not here to judge of course, we all have to make a living, and a lucrative one marketing can be.

One of the reasons we created P2PFA is to help spread a new message. A message that can be heard by everyone, from all walks of life. A message that holds true no matter how much you have, or don’t.

That message? “We are all the same.” What makes us different is our starting point, our place (physically), and the messaging we receive throughout life – by friends, family, and our “culture.”

Clearly, there are advantages to being born into certain neighborhoods. You may be thinking money, nice houses, great schools, and the safe neighborhoods. Sure, those contribute.

What’s the most meaningful advantage to being born into a “good” neighborhood? We believe it’s simply access to ideas. It’s access to networks of people, and an understanding of not only how to “level up” – but being told you can, and should. Constantly.

P2PFA is designed to bring the absolute basics of humanity to everyone – from dealing with neighbors, to understanding interest, and basic nutrition. Before you declare that you already understand the basics, have a look at what we believe the basics are, again. You might be surprised, and encouraged. The Basic Humanity Focus will always be a free download, and we’ll send a printed copy to any address, free of charge. A link will be posted to the Focus soon.

Let’s level the playing field. If we all re-start with the same basic understanding of each other, our neighbors, and our communities, our lives will improve. And by extension, so too will our country. It won’t happen tomorrow, nor will it with each Presidential change. It happens when we’re ready.

I’ll leave you with this screen shot of CNN.com. This is a snapshot of the “news” we’re fed day after day. Many of us know how “the news” works, but there are hundreds of millions of people that don’t. Take this challenge – disconnect from all news, local, US, and global, and focus on the things you have direct control over. It’s not a popular thought – disconnecting from things that “matter.” I’ll leave it to you to decide how much of this “news” really, really, at a fundamental human level matters – to you.

Thank you.

This is what is considered “news” today.

]]>http://www.p2pfa.com/uncategorized/basic-ideas-empowering-our-country/feed/035P2PFA: The Manifestohttp://www.p2pfa.com/startup/p2pfa-the-manifesto/
http://www.p2pfa.com/startup/p2pfa-the-manifesto/#commentsWed, 12 Sep 2012 12:43:17 +0000http://p2pfa.wordpress.com/?p=3This post will change over time to reflect new ideas and intentions. Consider it a work in progress as we build and discover the needs of the P2PFA community.

Mission: To gain, and retain control over our lives, our families, and our community.

What is P2PFA?

P2PFA is an acronym meaning Peer To (2) Peer For America. It is an unaffiliated community effort designed to educate, empower, and reward those in our community (Peers) that understand the meaning of, and desire prosperity. P2PFA will return control to those that feel they’ve lost it, provide them with a supportive and nurturing community, and help them discover the power that they have in their lives.

It’s a life-philosophy that encompasses everyone, from those caught in the cycle of poverty, to the working poor, single parents, and anyone willing to put forth the effort to improve their position in life. There are no income requirements and there are no limitations for whom, and where we serve.

The change P2PFA will make will take time – lives will be filled with self-appreciation, gratitude, respect, honesty, integrity and compassion. Communities of people with these traits will achieve amazing things in the years to come.

What P2PFA is not

P2PFA is not a government, political, charity, or religious organization. Moreover, the messaging across the entire organization is devoid of divisive subjects. Focusing instead on life/social skills and fundamental education allows for positive and productive conversations. Community participation removes any feeling of charity, and encourages the sharing of ideas and positive memes.

On Being Deliberate

Today’s society faces unprecedented amounts of overstimulation and negativity. For most, very little of what we read in the newspapers, watch on TV (news or otherwise), or hear discussed at work helps provide a hopeful and bright picture of the future. P2PFA encourages its peers to turn off the television, and to focus on the things that matter. Those things are self, family, neighbors, and community.

The intent is to simply to provide an incredible amount of focus while increasing the understanding of how America works. Example: candidate X’s plan for Z and their opinion on anything means literally nothing to someone that is struggling to provide basic necessities or their family. There is time for politics, and real wide-spread change, but until there is a complete, unbiased understanding of the details, we encourage Peers to disconnect from polarizing subjects.

On External Influence

This project is not political in nature and therefore it has no political affiliation or influence. It is not a religious foundation, and therefore it’s not affiliated with nor is it influenced by theological beliefs. It is powered by people just like you, and your desire to make America a better place for everyone. Political and religious belief systems are divisive, and while peers are certainly free to believe whatever the heart dictates, for the sake of this project, we keep affiliations and theological beliefs to ourselves.

On Differentiation

P2PFA is a startup in every sense of the word. We use the lean startup methodology, and understand customer development, business models, and the minimum viable product. We operate under our own rules, leveraging as little of the existing infrastructure as possible to reach our intended audience.

Our Methodology

Outreach is done in a manner that allows peers to self select based on aptitude – without requiring expensive campaigns or more intense hands-on sessions and interviews.

Our specific focus on helping individuals understand the personal, economic, and socio-relational aspects of their current situation, and how to level-up, is unique.

Answers to simple questions reveal a deep understanding of how potential peers relate to money, health, and social topics. When answers are given that match the goals of the specific focus, peers are invited to participate in a more formal interview process. This eliminates overhead, and allows our teammates to focus on those individuals that have demonstrated vision in the philosophies of P2PFA.

This program is executed by peers and neighbors in the very communities of Peers, providing a guaranteed level of trust and respect. It’s well known that building trust in a community is imperative for the success of any program. P2PFA’s instructors are hand picked from the communities we support.

On External Peer Pressures

The advertising industry is worth more than $250 billion annually. It defines success (wealth, happiness, a house in the burbs, a new car, $200 jeans), and how to achieve it (90 days same as cash, no interest for 24 months, 0% car loans, 5/1 ARMs). What‘s not told is the unknowable damage this causes to the human psyche as we compare our “success” with those around us. If we don’t have this widget, or that, then we must not be successful. It causes us to make unsound financial decisions all in the interest of maintaining status for people we don’t know, and whose opinion shouldn’t matter.

Example: A well maintained 15 year old car ($3,000, no payments or interest) works just as well as a brand new car ($15k over 84 months, $6k in interest alone), yet there is social pressure to have that new car. We feel “complete” and “safer” with a new car, though the older car (if chosen correctly) is statistically identical, and costs less than the interest on the new car.

To achieve its goals, P2PFA works with each Peer to understand how the economics of advertising and marketing work. We don’t have to have the latest gadgets. We don’t have to have new clothes, and we don’t have to drive new cars. Those are luxuries, and will come in time, if and when appropriate.

On the American Dream

The American Dream was a creation of the finance, advertising, and marketing industries. The reality of the matter is that for most, that dream is unattainable in the way it’s been sold. We can achieve far more by simply understanding how these things are created, and more importantly, how to live within our means. To us, the American Dream is redefined: “To live in sustainable prosperity, to improve our lives continuously, and to positively impact our family, our friends, and our community.”

On Instant Gratification

“For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice – no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.” – John Burroughs

Patience has been lost by many. The marketing industry has ingrained in us the desire to have anything we want, whenever we want it – and that means now. We can finance just anything – 90 days same as cash, no interest/payments until 2016 (4 years!).

Such easy access to new things means we can easily make payments on a more luxurious lifestyle. What’s never accounted for in the equation is risk. What if your spouse loses their income? What if you get laid off? Worse, what if you’re injured on the job and can’t work for 6 months? Simple events can cause financial catastrophes.

P2PFA instills patience and intention in “quality life” planning. Not only is it OK to live within your means, but growing your lifestyle responsibly is better for you, your family, and ultimately for the health of our country.

On Focus

With our self-paced, community driven education, anyone with the desire to improve their lives, can. Each focus has a simple message, written in fifth grade english and spanish, and contains a task. Tasks are extremely accessible, and provide a quick, measurable reward. The feeling of accomplishment encourages Peers to continue to the next Focus, and to share what they’ve learned with others.

The Focus areas are as follows. Each Focus will be a small, one page flyer or PDF, and will cost between 50¢ and $1. The Basic Humanities Focus will always be free.

Basic Humanities

Introduction

Relationships

Self

Neighbors

Family

Respect

Community

Religion

Advanced Humanities

Mentors

Mentoring

Networking

Volunteering

Basic Finance

Banks

Budgeting

Paying Interest

Debt and Loans

Rent to Own

Payday Lenders

Earning Interest

Investments

Savings Account

Basic Nutrition

Calories

Meal Planning (#eatfrugally)

Home Gardening

Technology

Mobile/Tablets

Laptops/Computers

Social Networks

Entertainment

Television

News

Political Overview

Contact information

Basic Legislation

City Government

State Government

Federal Government

Getting Involved/Resources

Transportation

Fuel

Public Transportation

Owning a car

Communications

Telephone (wired)

Mobile (wireless)

Data Plans

Internet

Cable

DSL

Microwave

Satellite

Consuming

Deals

Value

Marketing

Advertising

On Feedback

P2PFA operates in a continuous feedback loop. If you have feedback on the P2PFA mission, please send it. In addition, we’re always looking for writers – specifically those with domain mastery, and the heart of a teacher.